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Outdoor sports enthusiasts' equipment is becoming increasingly professional
Spring has arrived and the hiking enthusiasts are back on the road. With the growing awareness of leisure travel among citizens, more people are opting for DIY tourism. Hiking shoes, windbreakers, professional backpacks, DSLR cameras, and even tents and sleeping bags are becoming standard gear for travelers. A single traveler's outfit can range from a few thousand to tens of thousands of yuan, attracting many businesses to this lucrative market.
“Newbies” spend 3,000 yuan on travel gear
“This outfit cost me over 3,000 yuan,” said Wang Mian, a traveler, excitedly chatting with his companions on a bus heading to Wuyuan, Jiangxi, on April 2.
This was his second time joining fellow travelers for an outdoor activity. Compared to his first trip, he made quite a fresh impression—instead of casual wear, he wore professional hiking shoes, a windbreaker, and even a waterproof backpack.
“These shoes alone cost 1,100 yuan,” Wang Mian explained, as the trip involved 10 kilometers of hiking each day, prompting him to invest in these specialized shoes.
On the bus, Wang Mian’s gear was far from the most high-end. Sitting behind him was another traveler from Qingshan named “Wild Wolf,” who, over the past two years of passion for outdoor activities, had gradually added not only the basic gear but also a tent, sleeping bag, camping cookware, and various accessories.
This topic quickly resonated with others on the bus. Compared to seasoned travelers, most of those on this journey were “newbies” who had just joined the activity in recent years. They included office workers, factory laborers, and young students, ranging in age from their teens to nearly seventy.
“I also love photography and want to take more photos during outdoor trips.” A traveler using the online name “Sunflower (10.500, -0.10, -0.94%)” is a photography enthusiast. As his range of activities expanded over the years and he encountered more stunning scenery, he upgraded his camera from an entry-level Nikon D80 to a mid-range D700, and his lenses from a basic kit lens to three professional ones. He said just the camera equipment has cost him nearly 30,000 yuan.
Wuhan’s outdoor product sales reach 300 million yuan annually
Many believe that outdoor gear is mostly “for show,” with little practical use and just the appearance of being professional.
But that’s not the case at all.
According to Wang Tong, a medical expert in outdoor sports, wearing pure cotton clothes while traveling can lead to loss of insulation once they get wet, so choosing clothing that is both warm and breathable is essential. “A good pair of hiking shoes can save your feet a lot of pain,” she added.
“Over the past few years, our sales have been increasing year by year,” said Yu Zhihong, head of the Wuhan Chuanshanbao Club. Currently, the growth rate is about 30% annually.
Liu Lu, manager of the Wuhan Chuanshanbao Outdoor Products Store, noted that the outdoor goods market is currently in a phase of growth and expansion. In her view, the increase in market demand comes from several factors: more people joining the outdoor sports community, including the traditional main groups of students and young adults, as well as an influx of middle-aged and elderly participants; early outdoor enthusiasts now entering the gear replacement and upgrade cycle; and non-outdoor enthusiasts also beginning to appreciate the comfort and style of outdoor products.
So, how much does a basic setup for an outdoor sports enthusiast in Wuhan cost?
Yu Zhihong explained that most setups are around 2,000 yuan. But for a true traveler, as seen among Liu Lu’s customers, a complete set—including a tent, sleeping bag, clothes, shoes, and various small accessories—typically costs around 5,000 yuan. He noted that people around 35 years old are currently the main group participating in outdoor sports. They often have a certain level of financial stability, so their spending tends to be much higher than that.
“It varies from person to person,” an industry insider told reporters. With improving living standards, expanding outdoor activity ranges, and increasing types of outdoor pursuits, more athletes are equipping themselves more comprehensively. For example, shoes for hiking differ from those for stream trekking, and many travelers prepare different shoes for different activities.
According to data from the Wuhan Mountaineering Association, the city now has a complete outdoor sports industry chain. There are over 50 outdoor sports clubs in Wuhan, with annual outdoor training business exceeding 100 million yuan, and outdoor product sales surpassing 300 million yuan per year.
Outdoor gear infiltrates daily life of citizens
An online user nicknamed “Monkey” not only became obsessed with outdoor sports himself but also got his whole family involved. During the Qingming Festival holiday, he took his entire family, including his nearly 70-year-old mother, on a DIY travel group trip.
In fact, there are many citizens like “Monkey.” With economic development and changing lifestyle concepts, the group getting involved in outdoor sports is becoming increasingly diverse.
Industry insiders say that a few years ago, outdoor enthusiasts were mainly young people, but the group has now expanded to cover almost all age groups—from the young to the middle-aged and elderly.
“Young people engage in a variety of activities, including hiking, stream trekking, rock climbing, and mountaineering,” said “Yak,” an outdoor sports enthusiast and gear seller. Over the years, more seniors have also joined the outdoor sports community. Compared to the high-intensity activities of the young, they prefer low-intensity ones such as walking around East Lake, climbing Moshan, or Mulan Mountain.
“The elderly are also a new group purchasing outdoor gear.” They tend to focus more on comfort and safety in outdoor products.
The inclusion of groups like the elderly has further expanded the outdoor gear market.
Moreover, outdoor products are penetrating deeper into the everyday lives of ordinary citizens.
“Walking down the street, you’ll see windbreakers and hiking shoes worth over a thousand yuan everywhere.” Wang Ni, a citizen who goes on outdoor trips a few times a year, uses her gear—including a windbreaker and hiking shoes—only when traveling. But this past winter, she noticed that many people in Wuhan were wearing hiking gear as everyday fashion.
The market has also spotted this business opportunity. On April 5, several outdoor gear counters in a large shopping mall in Wuchang were offering seasonal discounts, attracting many customers to come and shop. A visit by reporters to multiple malls in Wuhan revealed that as outdoor equipment gradually becomes part of everyday life, almost all malls have added prominent outdoor gear counters, mainly selling clothing and footwear, and there are no shortage of buyers.